Missouri foster mother sentenced for child endangerment, avoids prison

A Missouri foster mother, Brenda Deutsch, 70, was sentenced to seven years in prison for child endangerment, but a Lincoln County judge suspended the execution of the sentence and placed her on three years of probation. Judge Thomas Frawley condemned Deutsch's actions and revoked her foster care license, apologizing to the victims for the failures of the foster care system. Deutsch's biological daughter, Brina Johnson, expressed disappointment with the outcome, stating, "I’m kinda lost for words because this is not the end we wished for." Johnson testified about alleged abuse and mentioned that the teenager at the center of the allegations was present in the courtroom. Deutsch was arrested in April after an investigation began when she sought permission to take the foster child to Texas. An anonymous caller later reported allegations of physical and mental abuse. Investigators learned that the girl had been traded for an exotic animal and was living in unsanitary conditions in Texas. The teenager described various forms of alleged abuse, including being struck with objects and threats to her life. Deutsch has fostered over 200 children throughout her career. Johnson noted that the judge's acknowledgment of the system's failures provided some validation despite her disappointment with the outcome.